BackNews in Numbers | 26 Army personnel died in first 50 days of this year
In other news, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, the trust that manages the famous Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, incurred Rs140-crore annual loss
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Rs2,500 crore
What is it? The estimated cost of re-verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar-based electronic know-your-customer process.
Why is it important? The attempt to weed out fake or forged identities used to secure telecom connections, especially wireless ones, will be a costly one. In January, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) proposed e-KYC for Aadhaar-based ratification of users, and suggested incentives.
Tell me more: In a letter to the telecom department, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) estimates that not just the cost, even the process will require resources to rope in about 1,000 million subscribers.
26
What is it? The number of army personnel who died in the first 50 days of 2017.
Why is it important? The unrest in Kashmir from summer last year continues this year, triggering more counter-insurgency measures that claimed six soldiers in 2017. The rest of the security forces were killed in avalanches in the valley, a result of global warming. These deadly 50 days follow a year with the highest death count of 82 among the J&K forces since 2008.
Tell me more: The counter-insurgency operations led to the death of 22 militants, the highest since 2010.
$1,020 million
What is it? The difference in income of terror group, Islamic State, between 2014 and 2016.
Why is it important? The effects of political moves against ISIS, such as Operation Tidal Wave II, reduction in cross-border smuggling in Turkish and Kurdish-controlled areas in Iraq etc. and military opposition to its expansion are starting to show. Unlike other terror groups, donors play a negligible part in ISIS’s finances. Its territories yield natural resources, and properties, businesses and people to pillage and tax, for it to extract revenue from. But a shrinking territorial grasp has hit its coffers too.
Tell me more: Its biggest source of money—looting, confiscations and fines—have declined from 52% of its income of $970-1,890 million in 2014 to 22% of its $520-870 million income in 2016, according to a report by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence .
Rs140 crore
What is it? The annual loss to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the trust that manages the famous Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, on account of laddus, an offering made to the deity of the temple, and sold at subsidised rates or given away free to the pilgrims.
Why is it important? It costs Rs32.50 to make a laddu and it’s sold for Rs25 each for the pilgrims in general, at Rs10 each for those who opt for free entry into the temple, and for free to those who walk up the hill. About 70 lakh people reach the temple every year by foot. About 40-50 million people visit the temple annually.
Tell me more: TTD earns over Rs2,000 every year, primarily from hundi collection.
50%
What is it? The share of coal in total exports of North Korea to China.
Why is it important? China has banned coal imports from North Korea following the country’s claim that it has successfully tested ballistic missiles recently. China also accounts for over two-thirds of North Korea’s exports. The move is expected to cause a shock to the struggling North Korean economy under Kim Jong-un and aimed to increase pressure on the country to stop its nuclear programme.
Tell me more: North Korea tested a medium long range ballistic missile on 12 February, which landed in the Sea of Japan. China has been reducing trade with North Korea partly due to local economic compulsions and partly because of international pressure to impose trade sanctions on the country.
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